Wringer



Get. 8. 19'4Q. w. a... KAUFFMAN. 20

WRINGER Filed Jam 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet z I Moi/1 I VENTOIR.

ATTORNEYS. I

W. L. KAUFFMAN, 2D

WRINGER Filed Jan. 22', 1936 4 Sheeis-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

(Tct- 1940 w. I... KAUFFMAN, 2D 2,216,744

WRINGER Filed Jan. 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WWI ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 8, 1940 PATENT OFFICE -WRINGER Walter L. Kauffman, II, Erie, Pa., 'a ssignor to Lovell Manufacturing Company, Erie,.Pa., a

corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 22, 1936, Serial No. 60,325

12 Claims. (01. 68-249).

Power wringers present a very definite problem in supplying devices which can be actuated to prevent serious injury when the operator gets her hand, or fingers, caught in the wringer rolls. The present invention is designed to improve wringers with relation to the safety mechanism. It involves the arrangement of a safety actuator which is arranged below the feed path of the clothes leading to the bite of the rolls and operative in the specific construction shown to stop the power and prevent the added drawing in of the hands. The device also contemplates as a feature such an arrangement of the control mechanism that will disconnect the power in l case that clothes are wound on one of the rolls,

or are jammed at the outlet side of the rolls. The invention also contemplates an improved scheme of drive mechanism by means of which the power connections may be more conveniently l and sensitively controlled. Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a section of a wringer involving the invention on the line l--l in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 a front elevation of the same wringer,,

partly in section.

) Fig. 3 a sectional view of the power end of the wringer and a sectional view of the gear box with the driving mechanism.

Fig. 4 a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 a section on the line 55 in Fig. 3, the 5 gear being in neutral.

Fig. 6 a similar section showing the parts set for a drivingmovement of the gear mechanism.

Fig. 7 a sectional view on the line in Fig. 8 showing a modification. 0 Fig.8 a front elevation of the same wringer.

Fig. 9 a section of the end of the wringer shown in Figs. 7 and 8 with the gear-box attached and in section. i

Fig. 10 a section on the line III-'40 in Fig. 9.

:5 Fig. 11 a perspective view of the reversing levers of the control mechanism.

Fig. 12 a section on the line l2--l2 in Fig. 11. The frame of the wringer is made up of the base I, side stiles 2 and 3, and top bar 4. It has 0 the lower wringer roll 5, the upper wringer roll 6, the drive shaft 1 extending through the lower roll, the shaft 8 extending through the upper roll, bearings 9 for the shaft 1 of the lower roll,-

thesev bearings being arranged in the stile and bearings Ill slidingly mounted in the side stiles in which the shaft 8 is journaled. A pressure spring ll operates on the upper bearings and is adjusted by the usual adjusting screw l2. One end of the top bar is secured to the side stile 2 by interlocking shoulders l3. The opposite end 5 is secured by a safety device being along the same lines as shown in my application, Serial Number 45,279 in which there are cross slides M in the top bar with actuating bars 15 along the front and back of the top bar. The slides I4 10 operate a rocking plate [6 swingingly 'mounted in the top of the top bar and having a trip end I! adapted to engage the end of a latch [8. The latch I8 is pivoted on a pin l9. It has a hoolc which engages under a shoulder 2| in the side 15 stile. When the plate 5 is moved sidewise it releases the latch l8 and the latch releases the top bar and as the top bar swings up the interlocking shoulders are unhooked and the pressure on the spring is thus released.

Clothes guides 22 are secured in side brackets 23 at the front and rear of the wringer frame. These guides are directed to feed the clothes toward the bite of the rolls. A trough 24 is arranged under the rolls in position to catch the 25 water and this is discharged from this trough through an opening 25.

A safety bar 26 is arranged in continuation of the guide forming a slight abutment at the upper end of the guide. This bar is pivotally mounted on pivot rods 21 and 28 extending into the brackets 23, the rod 21 extending into the gear box to control the shifting mechanism for the gears. The inward end of the guide 22 has a depressed portion 29 leading into the trough and this makes a fairly close fit with the edge of the bar 26 when the front face of the bar is swung inwardly.

- The bar has a downwardly extending lip 30 at When the bar is operated it brings the gear mechanism to neutral and stops the'roll. A preferred mechanism for this purpose is as followsq A shaft 32 is journaled in a bearing 33 in a gear box 34. The shaft 32 is connected with the shaft 1 by a coupling 35. A beveled gear 36 is fixed on the shaft 32 and meshes with gears 3! and 38 journaled on a drive shaft 38. Aclutch member ii? is slidingly mounted on the shaft 39 and splined thereon. The ends of the member 46 and the faces of the gears 37 and 38 have interlocking detents and projections ii forming clutch engaging means in the usual manner. The member it has an annular rib 52 and a block 53 is provided with a groove engaging the rib 52. The block #33 has a cross slot it in which a crank pin d operates. The pin 65 is carried by a disc 38 and the disc is mounted on a shaft ii. A setting handle 68 is fixed on the shaft il. By throwing this handle the crank 65 is moved and consequently the clutch member is moved into engagement either with the upper gear, or the lower gear, thus driving the wringer in either direction. The disc has locking notches 39 which are adapted to be engaged by pins 56 arranged in a cross slide 5!. The cross slide has slots 52 through which plates 53 formed in extension of the shafts 21 at the front and rear of the wringer extend. Springs 5% are secured at each side of a rock arm 55 extending from the disc it and yieldingly throw the sliding latch plate 5! carrying the pins 59 into locking engagement with the slots 59 as the disc is thrown through the action of the handle for setting the gears. Therefore, the gear setting is locked by the pins 59 and operates until tripped.

This setting can be easily released by a very sensitive mechanism because it is only necessary to withdraw the pin 5i? from its locking position. This is accomplished in the present invention by rocking the rods 27. This rocking of the rods at either side, or in either direction, swings a plate 53 and this moves the latch 5i to carry the pin 5@ in engagement with the notch t9 out of such notch and thus releases the disc 36 which swings to its neutral position through the action of the spring 56 which has been put under tension. This immediately brings the parts to neutral and stops the Wringer. It will be understood that the interlocking portions of the clutch have their engaging surfaces slightly inclined so that this assists in the disengaging movement when the lock is tripped.

The following mechanism is provided for releasing the trip mechanism so as to bring the gear mechanism to neutral from a single position. This is accomplished by providing cams 56 on the inner faces of upward projections of the slide 5!. ate in connection with cams 5'! on a cross head 570.. A pin 58 extends upwardly from the cross head through a bearing in the gear box and terminating with a press button 59. A spring 60 yieldingly holds the rod 58 upwardly.

When it is desired to release the driving mechanism the button 59 is merely depressed and the camming action forces the latch sidewise so as to bring the pin 50 out of the locking notch and releases the mechanism.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 and following the wringer is similar to that shown in the previous structure except that the safety device is omitted. 'The top bar has the interlocking shoulders I3 at one end and at the opposite end has a re-setting device comprising a lever 6| of U-shape in cross section pivotally mounted on the top bar at 62. This lever 6| is pivotally connected with a link 63 by means of a pivot 65 and the link ,63 is connected with the frame by a pivot 64. When the lever is thrown up the toggle mechanism is released and the top bar is re- These cams are adapted to operleased. When brought down the top bar is forced down to position re-setting the pressure on the spring.

The wringer roll shafts, gear box and gear arrangement is the same as that in the preceding structure and the reversing. clutch is also similar. The actuating bars for controlling the gears are, however, slightly different. Guides b5 are arranged on the front and rear of the frame. The guides have doumward lips t? which enter the trough. A trip bar til is arranged at the front and rear of the wringer. -The bar is pivotally mounted on rods as and it, the rod i=9 being car ried through to the gear box to actuate the setting of the gear mechanism. The bar 68 has a face it adapted through the camming action of the clothes press downwardly on this portion of the bar to depress the bar and accomplish a tripping action. The bar 68 also has a lip 12 which is in position to be engaged by clothes wrapping on the roll, or clothes jamming at the discharge side in which event the trip bar is rocked and the gear driving mechanism thrown to neutral. v

In order that the trip bar may be actuated by clothes winding on the upper roll levers F3 are arranged at each side of the wringer and engage the ends of the lip l2. These levers are pivoted at it and have cross bars l5 extending across the upper roll in position to be engaged by the clothes if wrapped on the upper roll.

The tripping mechanism for controlling the ear clutch is modified from that shown in the preceding figures and is as follows: A shaft H3 is journaled in the gear box and carries a disc ll. This disc has a crank pin l8 operating in the groove 54 of the block operating on the clutch member. The disc has an arm l9 from which a handle 8@ extends, the handle extending through a slot iii in the wall of the gear box. By operating this handle the crank can be operated and the clutch member thrown up or down to drive the wringer in either direction, or may be fixed at neutral so as to disengage the driving mechanism.

An arm 82 is arranged on the disc Ti and springs 85 operate on this arm to yieldingly draw the crank to neutral position when the parts are released.

Levers 3d are fixed on the shafts "69 and rock I being connected to the outer strap only of the 4 This link compels levers 84 by pivot pins 81. the pivoted levers to move together, opening the top or closing the top together. A trip plate 88 is mounted on the arm l9, its ends extending between the walls of the levers 84. Each end of the trip plate is provided with a stop shoulder 89 which is adapted to engage the end of the connecting strap 85 when the trip plate 88 is thrown in either direction through the action of the arm 19. It will be seen that when the handle is operated and the arm 19 thrown the trip plate is swung so as to bring the shoulder 89 out of the lever 84 and the springs 83 which have been put under tension snap this lever in behindthe stop and lock the trip plate and consequently the arm 19 and crank in the set position. When,- however, either rod 69 is rocked by a downward, or inward movement of the trip plate 68, the lever 84 is rocked so as dzo draw the strap 85 away from the shoulder 89*a'nd thus release 5 rolls controlling the safety device, said mecha-' the trip bar and with it the rock arm. and the clutch. 1 "3'.

A release button 90 is connected by a post 9| and'the post 9! has a cross head 92. The ends of the cross head are slotted at '93'and pins 94 extend through theseslots into the inner walls of the levers 84. By pressing down on the button 90 the cross head operating onthe upper ends of the levers 84 rocks them inwardly and disengages the shoulders 89, thus immediately permitting the parts, under the action of the springs, to spring to neutral. the operator by exerting downward pressure, or inward pressure, on the actuating bar can stop the wringer and the operator then can, if desired, immediately reverse the wringer and disengage the hand. It will also be noted that any wrapping, or jammingof the clothes also a'ctuates the bar and throws the driving mechanism into neutral position.

The spring and torque actuated releasing means for the driving connection herein described is not broadly claimed asthese features,

and positioned adjacent the surface of the guide and under the path of the clothes, said bar being pivotally mounted and movable relatively to the guide and actuating the safety devices through its pivotal movement.

2. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a driving gear mechanism; a drive connection between a roll and the mechanism; controlling devices controlling the connection, said devices yieldingly tending to break the connection; a trip means retaining and releasing the controlling devices; and an actuator arranged beneath. the path of the clothes leading to the bite operating said trip means, said actuator being operable through pressure exerted adjacent to the bite of the rolls and being responsive to such pressure in a direction toward the rolls.

3. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a driving gear mechanism; a drive connectionbetween a roll and the mechanism; controlling devices controlling the connection, said devices yieldingly tending to break the connection; a trip means retaining and releasing the controlling devices; a guide leading to the bite of the rolls; and an actuator positioned beneath the path of the clothes over the guide adjacent to the guide surface of the guide and inwardly from the outer edge thereof and operating the trip means.

4. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; power means for the rolls; safety devices rendering the means inactive; and an actuating means controlling the safety devices and responsive to direct engagement of clothes carried by the upper roll. I 5. In a wringer, the combination of a frame;

rolls mounted in the frame; pressure and power It will be seen, therefore,.that' nism being touchactuated while maintaining the mechanism in clothes feeding position to trip the safety device in response to pressure thrust away from the operator, and having the more sensitive touch responsive. surfaces adjacent the bite of the rolls with less sensitive clothes guiding surfaces more remote from the rolls.

6. In a wringer, thecombination of a frame;

means for the rolls; safety devices rendering one of these means inactive; and a clothes guide having inner and outer edges leading to the bite of the rolls, including a touch actuated mechanism controlling the safety devices positioned below the feeding path of the clothes and having its more sensitive touch surfaces inwardly from the outer edge'of the guide. v

7. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; pressure and power means for the rolls; safety devices rendering one of these means inactive; a clothes guide having inner and outer edges leading to the bite of the rolls; and a touch actuated mechanism controlling the safety devices positioned below the feeding path of the clothes and over the guide and above the feeding surface thereof, and having its more sensitive touch surfaces inwardly from the outer edge of the guide. I

8. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; pressure and power means for the rolls; safety devices rendering one of these means inactive, and a clothes guide having inner and outer edges leading to the bite of the rolls, including a touch actuated mechanism controlling the safety devices positioned below the feeding path of the clothes and having its more sensitive touch surfaces inwardly from the outer edge of the guide, said mechanism rolls mounted in the frame; pressure and power means for the rolls; safety devices rendering the power means inactive; and a clothes guiding and tripping mechanism having guiding surfaces ad-- jacent to and remote from the roll under the path of the clothes leading to the bite of the rolls controlling the safety device, said mechanism being touch actuated while maintaining the mechanism in clothes feeding position to trip the safety device in response to pressure thrust away from the operator, and having the more sensitive touch responsive surfaces adjacent the bite of the rolls with less sensitive clothes guiding surfaces more remote from the rolls.

10. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the'frame; pressure and power means for the rolls; safety devices rendering the power means inactive;-a clothes guide having inner and outer edges leading to the bite of the rolls, including a touch actuated mechanism controlling the safety devices positioned below the feeding path of the clothes and having its more sensitive touch surfaces inwardly from the outer edge of the guide.

11. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; pressure and power means for the rolls; safety devices rendering the power means inactive; a clothes guide having inner and outer edges leading to the bite of the rolls, including a touch actuated mechanism controlling the safety devices positioned below the feeding path of the clothes and over the guide and above the feeding surface thereof, and

having its more sensitive touch surfaces inwardly from the outer edge of the guide.

12. In a wringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; pressure and power means for the rolls; safety devices rendering the power means inactive; a. clothes guide having inner and outer edges leading to the bite of the rolls, including a touch actuated mechanism con- 

